Abstract: A surface accessible wiring system for the distribution of power and signal conductors such as telephone or data conductors is disclosed. A raceway comprises a channel member having a plurality of compartments, a cover which can be securely snapped to the raceway channel and a plurality of connector housings. Each raceway component is extruded from a material such as aluminum. Ribs on the cover and the connector housings are securely snapped into engagement with lips on the channels so that the covers can only be removed with the use of a tool. The channels are shallow so that the raceway assembly can be mounted substantially flush with the exterior surface of a wall or a wall panel, either at the base or top of the wall or at desk level.

Abstract: A raceway assembly employing snap-on outlet covers is disclosed. The raceway has multiple compartments extending longitudinally for carrying conductors such as standard house wiring power conductors and telephone or data conductors. Separate outlet housings each comprise a one piece, generally metal, bracket having a front wall on a parallel back wall. Insulative end walls are secured to enclose the interior of the receptacle housings. The brackets have openings in the front wall and outlet conductors, such as duplex receptacles or modular telephone jacks, are secured to the front wall. Access to one compartment is provided by a cutout in the rear wall and the rear wall covers the entire portion of the other compartment. Brackets can be positioned side-by-side with multiple outlet connectors or receptacles being positioned on the same centerline.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for use with a motherboard and a daughterboard in a backplane configuration is disclosed. The motherboard connector has an insulative housing with a plurality of signal pins and a plurality of power contacts. A ground bus having upstanding posts is located beween rows of signal pins. A daughterboard signal connector is separate from the daughterboard power, and the daughterboard signal connector has a plurality of ground blades which are matable with the ground bus between adjacent upstanding ground posts. Thus, a substantially constant spacing of signal contacts relative to ground can be maintained through the right angle motherboard/daughterboard connector.

Abstract: A high speed, high density, controlled impedance connector for use between printed circuit boards is disclosed. The connector provides for both power and signal transmission. Closely spaced signal terminals are surrounded by dielectric sleeves positioned in an array, and the plural dielectric sleeves are in turn surrounded by an outer unitary cast conductive housing. The essentially coaxial configuration of the contacts permits minimal variations in the impedance along the length of the signal paths in the connector. The connector is fabricated by first positioning the dielectric sleeves in spaced relationship on prescribed centerlines and subsequently casting or molding the conductive outer housing around the sleeve array.

Abstract: A coaxial electrical connector assembly including an insulative housing having a ground plate with a plurality of apertures sized to receive signal contacts without contact with the ground plate and other apertures sized to engage ground terminals is disclosed. Tabs formed by slits are deflected by the ground terminals inserted into these apertures. This coaxial connector can be employed as an input or output to signal and ground pins used in a backplane connector which form part of a backplane connector assembly for interconnection of a plurality of daughterboards to a motherboard.

Abstract: A surface applied electrical raceway assembly comprising an extruded rear panel and an extruded cover which form a plurality of elongate compartments for deploying wires or other electrical conductors is disclosed. At any position along its length, the raceway can be attached to hanger brackets mounted on a wall. Continuous recesses including a tongue and groove configuration on the exterior of the rear panel and channels in at least one compartment permit attachment of the raceway to the hangers at any position and the installation of interfaces, such as standard duplex outlets, at any position along the raceway length. A storage compartment for receiving excess plug cables is also disclosed. The rear panel and the covers can be cut to length and together with accessory fittings can be used to form customized raceways with outlets at any desired location.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including signal interconnection, ground interconnection, and power interconnection means in both a motherboard connector and a daughterboard connector is disclosed. The motherboard connector consists of a single connector having signal terminals, ground terminals, and power terminals. The daughterboard connector assembly consists of a daughterboard signal housing having signal and ground terminals and a separate daughterboard power housing positioned on the opposite surface of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal connector subassembly. Power terminals in both the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector are oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard so that daughterboards having varying thicknesses can be employed. This invention can be used in a connector having a cast metallic outer shield or in a connector having a conventional insulative outer housing.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including a motherboard connector and power and signal daughterboard connectors is disclosed. The motherboard connector has a signal section and a power section. Individual signal contacts are located in the signal section of the motherboard connector. A laminated power bus is located in the power section of the motherboard connector which is on the opposite side of the daughterboard from the signal section. Each of a plurality of separate busses in the laminated power bus has tabs extending from one edge and bent at right angles relative to the bus so that the tabs extend orthogonally relative to the daughterboard. This configuration permits daughterboards having different thicknesses to be mated inserted into the same motherboard connector. The laminated power bus permits power to be delivered externally of the motherboard to the daughterboards.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle is disclosed which deactivates the front of an electrical receptacle when an electrical plug is not present. The receptacle includes a semiconductor switch mounted between the hot contacts of the receptacle, and the hot conductor of an electrical power cable. The receptacle also includes a momentary contact switch located between the contacts of the ground receptacle portion, activated by the ground pin of an electrical plug upon engagement, and deactivated upon retraction of the electrical plug. The momentary contact switch, when activated, also activates the semiconductor switch which in turn, activates the receptacle front.

Abstract: A connector formed of mating connector halves for interconnecting corresponding conductive traces of opposed printed circuit boards. Each connector half is formed of an insulative housing with electrical elements. The electrical elements include terminals of separable signal contacts arranged in rows and a central blade-like bus functioning as a reference ground plane or as a power member. When the connector halves are mechanically joined, they will electrically interconnect conductive traces of one printed circuit board with conductive traces of the other printed circuit board.

Abstract: A high performance controlled impedance low loss low attenuation cable having the characteristics of a shielded twisted pair cable is disclosed. The cable contains a plurality of pairs of associated conductors located in a single plane to give a low profile flat cable suitable for use in undercarpet wiring installations. The cable comprises a plurality of layers of extruded insulating material with a metal foil shield surrounding only associated pairs of conductors. Insulating material having different dielectric constants is employed in conjunction with the encircling foil shield to give the cable the characteristics of a conventional shielded twisted pair cable.

Abstract: An adaptor to couple a connector to a conductor of a flat, high performance, electrical cable is disclosed. The adaptor includes two mating halves through which the conductors pass. The adaptor is formed with an internal recess and further includes a ferrule therein to allow an electrical ground connection to an EMI shield of the cable. The adaptor is also formed with external threads whereby a threaded nut may be employed to maintain the adaptor halves operatively couples. The connector can then be attached to components of an electrical system without significant radiation occurring at the interconnection.

Abstract: Electrical connector for telephone wiring interface providing lightning protection is formed by dielectric base having first terminals thereon for terminating wires and having upright first members aligned with apertures in a dielectric cover latched to base and a stanchion normal received in a dielectric jack mounted to the base to provide testing by inserting a plug inserted through an aperture in the cover. A plug member has second terminals fixed thereon for receiving wires and upright second mating members arranged to mate with first mating members in apertures. Base and cover accommodate a lightning arrester and include a removable insert to compensate for arresters of different sizes.

Abstract: A premise wiring system for telephones and the like is formed by a three-wire flat cable one end of which is terminated by a plug, the cable having at least one jack connected thereto at a position spaced from the plug and possibly a splice joining cable segments. Both the plug and jack are configured to have first and second terminals each terminal having a mating first end and an oppositely-directed insulation-piercing conductor-engaging second end with the second end of the first terminals configured to engage the outer conductors of the cable while the second end of the second terminal is configured to engage only the center conductor of the cable so that, regardless of the changes in direction imparted to the cable, the plug jack and splice can be terminated thereon effecting proper connection regardless of orientation. The splice is similarly configured but contains three double-ended terminals which engage like conductors of adjacent cable segments.

Abstract: Network interface device in the form of a switch comprises a dielectric base with a cover slidably mounted thereon. Parallel first and second spade terminals upstanding from said base alternate in a first row. The first terminals are part of contacts connected to subscriber's wiring, the second terminals are part of contacts connected to network wiring. Parallel third and fourth spade terminals upstanding from said base alternate in a second parallel row. The third terminals are integral with contacts having second terminals thereon, and the fourth terminals are part of contacts connected to spring contacts in a test jack. Four pairs of first and second terminals lie directly opposite four pairs of respective third and fourth terminals. Bridging contacts in a third parallel row on the cover connect first and second terminals when the cover is closed, connecting the network to the subscriber's wiring.

Abstract: Electrical connector for telephone wiring interface comprises dielectric base having four stamped and formed first terminals thereon which receive screws for terminating wires and have upright first mating members aligned with apertures in a dielectric cover latched to base. Each first terminal is formed with a stanchion normal to the base and a spring contact which are received in a dielectric jack mounted to the base to provide testing by inserting a plug inserted through an aperture in the cover. A plug member has four stamped and formed second terminals fixed thereon which receive screws for terminating wires and upright second mating members arranged to mate with first mating members in apertures. Plug member has a leg flanking each second mating member, the legs being profiled to fit closely in apertures to align respective mating members for mating, which retains plug member against cover. Base and cover accommodate lightning arrestor and circuitry as desired.

Abstract: Modular connector comprises a die cast zinc housing with die cast zinc terminals surrounded by nylon sleeves passing therethrough. Terminals may have right angles therein for connecting circuit boards at right angles such as daughter boards being connected to mother boards. Connectors are modular in form so that individual connectors may be assembled to a circuit board one at a time to form an assembly having varying impedance characteristics throughout its length. Modules providing solely for grounding or power transmission between boards may be provided.

Abstract: Joystick switch comprises a handle attached to a support member carrying a ball member which rides in a socket fixed on a base. A straight length of resilient wire fixed to the base passes through an aperture defined by four discrete contacts in the base and into a bore in the ball member where it is slideably received. Arcuate movement of the handle causes lateral deflection of the wire into contact with the contacts to generate signals for x-y directional control. Die cast zinc circuitry in the base provides grounding for the wire and signal current for the contacts. Resilient return action for the handle is effected by an elastomeric ring in the base which bears on an annular surface of the support member.

Abstract: Joystick switch comprises a handle attached to a contact carrying support member which is latchably carried by latch arms attached to a contact carrying base member. Contacts are cast in loop-like patterns toward the periphery of each member and an elastomeric member inside the bounds of the contacts between the support member and base provides resilient return action. A plunger carried in a bore in the handle and through the elastomeric member closes contacts in the base and is operated independently of the joystick directional control.

Abstract: Modular connector comprises a die cast zinc housing with die cast zinc terminals surrounded by nylon sleeves passing therethrough. Terminals may have right angles therein for connecting circuit boards at right angles such as daughter boards being connected to mother boards. Connectors are modular in form so that individual connectors may be assembled to a circuit board one at a time to form an assembly having varying impedance characteristics throughout its length. Modules providing solely for grounding or power transmission between boards may be provided.